•todo suave (‏ (7/04/2011

Happy 4th of July!

Well it's been an eventful week to say the least! We just had a baptism this last Saturday and we were up in Tempe for the two days before that for all kinds of training so this entire week has just been a blur. We first went up Thursday for a Spanish training and it was super good - we all talked about the concerns and problems that our unique to spanish work, and there are definitely a lot...but that's what we love about it. We decided it all tied back to commitments and being able to teach more boldly with more power and authority. It can be tough sometimes, but especially because of who we're teaching we have to be really bold and show how important it is that we really follow through with these commitments. I also got to sing a solo for the training meeting - a song called "Breathe" by Paul Cardall that we translated into Spanish. It sounded pretty decent.
We also had our last big training on Friday for the Fundamentals of Preach My Gospel and it went super well. It's cool to be around so many other missionaries and to learn from them and get their insights. I did enjoy our smaller more personal trainings the past 3 weeks where the AP's came down and we were able to learn a whole lot together. But President Howes is an incredible leader and we learned a ton from him. I love how he really emphasizes the importance of our message and how we should look at people. We are all children of God, helping them to be able to be clean from sin, guilt, and shame to be able to be truly happy and live with Him again. There is nothing that could ever be more important! I also got to sing a song at the training to commemorate and remember the martyrdom of Joseph Smith that was last week - I sang a song called "As a lamb to the slaughter" by Nashville Tribute and it actually went over really well. I sang it with Elder Burgos playing and it was something pretty sweet.
And then Saturday was Belinda's baptism! We were going to maybe do it next week, but she found out that she might have to temporarily move soon, so she wanted to get baptized ASAP. So we hurried up to set it all up and it went soooo good. we had a whole lot of people there and she got so emotional, because the happiness and the change she felt was so real and so complete. We actually went over last night to visit and ended up talking to her aunt that was there. Her aunt is just absolutely amazed because Belinda turned around completely and has become a totally different person - she's so much nicer, happier, and content with life. She reads and prays every single day, and is just happy! Her boyfriend saw the change in her, and his heart was totally softened. He was way against the church at first, but now wants to get baptized and get married (we still haven't even taught him yet), because he's seen what it's done for her. So hopefully we can teach her boyfriend and aunt, and they can get baptized soon.
We find it somewhat entertaining and funny that this is 4th of July weekend and absolutely everyone is out of town and many in Mexico. That sounds like a good idea...let's celebrate our country's independence by going to Mexico! Kind of ridiculous. So it was a little tough to get people to church yesterday, but some did come. What was way cool is that one guy we're teaching named Antonio did come to church! we haven't visited him in almost 2 weeks but he decided that morning he was going to go and he did! he came all dressed up with a shirt and tie and his scriptures and it was just so cool. He's already stopped drinking alcohol and he's stopping the coffee as well, and he was another one that missionaries just randomly talked to on the street so it's just sweet.
So yeah for 4th of July we're going to have a big zone bbq and make sonoran-style hot dogs (bacon-wrapped hot dogs with guacamole and all kinds of stuff on top). We're going to play some frisbee golf and different things even though it's going to be super warm outside - it's been really really warm and humid lately. Saturday it was 118 degrees! So yep, we're staying very very warm....
but yeah, life is good and I'll know next week whether I'm staying or getting transferred! Love you all!
~ Elder Jesse Carlson